IPOH: The new water tariffs in Perak is expected to be known in early March, Perak Menteri Besar said.
Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said Perak Water Board (LAP) meeting would be held on March 1 to discuss the matter.
He said the decision would then be taken to the exco meeting to be approved before being officially announced.
"We need to discuss the rationale for the increase, whether it is profitable or disadvantageous in terms of business, burdensome to consumers or not.
"Once agreed (decision to increase water tariff) we will bring it in the exco meeting and make an announcement afterwards," he said in a press conference after opening a Course for the Village Development and Security Committee chairman (JPKK) at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here, today.
Saarani, who is LAP chairman, said the state government assured that the rate increase would not burden the people.
"The last time we had an increase (in water tariff rate) was in 2006 if I'm not mistaken.
"This means, if we don't take this opportunity, we will have to wait longer for it to be approved by SPAN (the National Water Services Commission) because the tariff review is not done every year.
"So we will take this opportunity to raise it. But I am sure it will not be burdensome," he said.
It was reported that new water tariffs, which will see domestic users in the peninsular and Labuan pay an average of 22 sen more for every cubic metre beginning Feb 1, are still insufficient to cover the actual cost of providing water supply services, according to the SPAN.
In a statement on Jan 17, SPAN said that based on its records in 2022, the actual cost of providing water supply services was RM1.75 per cubic metre.
Based on a check on LAP's official website, the water tariffs for domestic users in Perak are 30 sen for consumption of zero to 10 cubic metres (m³); 70 sen (11-20m³) and RM1.03 (over 20m³).